One of the first projects I would like to do is install a computer into my car. I have already built the computer itself and have a DCtoDC power supply that wires directly into the battery. There are a couple parts beyond that I am undecided on and was hoping to get some input.

Mainly the computer will be just to give me a much bigger juke box for my car, but also will double for internet access, A/V recording while driving, and maybe a couple other things if I can think of any.

I won't really need to use the computer while driving so a fold away monitor is fine. That said, the monitor is the main part I am undecided on.

There is a single DIN 7" touch screen, since I have double DIN spaces this then limits me to a single DIN deck.

There is also a 12.1" roof mount touch screen.

That company also makes numerous other touch screen car monitors but I think I am mainly undecided between those two. If someone has some one they think would be better by all means say so.

I think the 7" deck monitor would be more convenient and accessible but the 7" screen seems like it might be small, especially for controlling Windows via touchscreen input. The 12.1" seems like it would be much easier for interfacing with the computer but at the same time is bigger and having it swing down from the roof is not as convenient as center console location.

After that the 3rd part of the job, completely optional, is if I want to install a battery isolator and a second battery to power all this. I've never seen anyone have a set up like that but I know it is possible and I like the idea of being able to leave the computer running without the possibility of hurting my ability to start the car. Hoping some people have input on if they think that is a good or bad idea. In the end the 2nd battery would power the computer, monitor, plus any additional DC equipment I hook up to car. How much extra stress does that put on the alternator would be my main concern.

 

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Looks like that is your product. As I said in my post I already have the actual computer built, just need to figure out the monitor part of it. Since you responded though I will give you my thoughts on your system and why I would not buy even if I had not already put together my own.

First thing to look at is the application. Sure I love computer gaming. Shooters and Strategy are my favorite genres and I will definitely put my computer to stress when I game. Problem is, I won't be gaming in my car. I cannot think of one situation where I would game in my car. Look at the monitors I have listed, a 12.1" and a 7" those are not big enough for gaming either. So what else might one do that could require so much CPU, coding and compiling, graphics manipulation, video encoding? I really can't see anyone doing anything like that in their carputer.

What I do expect from my carputer; mp3 jukebox, occasional VPN access to my home network, internet access on the fly, etc. All stuff that could be done from a Pentium 100 system.

Second thing to look at, especially in my case, heat. I live in Las Vegas. Even with the A/C on full tilt parts of my car get hot as hell. Core I series, especially the i7 are gonna put off some BTUs.

Third, you only offer SSDs! I assume your case there can only fit 1 hdd/ssd? That is a disappointing design constraint, in my case I went with a 500GB Seagate Hybrid drive and a 1TB Samsung 2.5" drive. Nonetheless, considering the extremely high cost of SSD compared to HDD I think you should be offering those. In performance section I talked about why having a core I is unnecessary, so too is that the case with a SSD. In most computers I would rather have a SSD but in a carputer I would want maximum storage and would prefer HDD.

Questionable cooling design? This kind of goes in with heat and I could be wrong because I'm only basing it off the picture but is that unit passively cooled? That definitely would not work for me due to the same Las Vegas reason. If it is not passively cooled ignore this part.

So there you have my main criticisms; too much CPU, potential heat/cooling, and choice of storage device. I do like the small, amp looking case if it has active cooling. Your prices are pretty good too.

So what system did I build then?
Jetway JNC64 motherboard
Intel Core 2 Duo mobile P7570 2.23GHz
8GB DDR3 SODIMM
500GB Seagate Momentus XT Hybrid drive
1TB Samsung Spinpoint hard drive

Total cost of system was under $500, only thing I don't have that you do is a case but as the motherboard will be mounted somewhere not accessible without removing paneling I see a case as an unnecessary expense. Your system has more processing power than mine but my position is you would be unable to do anything useful with it, especially when using a touchscreen monitor.